Passion or Practicality: Its Implications for Career Choices among the STEM-related Professionals

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the reasons behind the pursuit of STEM-related careers among the parents and alumni of a Chinese private school located in Cebu City. Method: This study utilized the case study approach with face-to-face interviews. Purposive sampling was based on the following criteria: must be a parent of a currently enrolled student or an alumnus of Philippine Christian Gospel School; or must be currently working as a STEM professional or must have at least five (5) years of experience in a STEM career or retired from a STEM career. A total of six (6) participants who were two engineers, two doctors, and two IT specialists. The data gathered from said interviews was then transcribed, analyzed, and reviewed. Findings: Based on the analysis of the transcripts, there were three major themes that were revealed: the influences in choosing a STEM Career; expectations and reality; and career satisfaction. Significance: This study seeks to provide insightful data for students who are undecided on which strand to choose, as well as for researchers and teachers. Conclusion: There were numerous influences affecting a student’s decision to pursue a STEM career such as key figures, opportunities, skills, educational background, desired social or financial status, expectations, and career satisfaction. While passion is a driving force for choosing a career, it is possible for an individual who chose practicality to develop a newfound passion for their career. Thus, categorizing the decision as either passion or practicality fails to capture the full range of influences at play, both before and after choosing a STEM career. This highlights the importance of understanding career choices in a more comprehensive way, considering all the different factors that influence the decision-making process.